Open Field of Learning

While thinking of an imagery for learning environment my mind surprisingly went to the sports field. That is an odd choice for someone like me who is athletically challenged but nevertheless I find it a powerful analogy to the learning environments of tomorrow!

If you notice some public fields have a special feature: they have a section open for everyone to play on; young and old, skilled and unskilled all can come and enjoy and gain from the experience of playing the sport and alongside it is a section cordoned off with nets or posts and therein a coach trains a smaller set of athletes.

While the cordoned off field is structured with limited athletes playing and practising there, the open field tends to be chaotic with more players than the field can handle at time. And yet there is an energy and buzz on this side unmatched by the netted area.

In our organizations, management in all these years have stood for order and structure through the use of control. However, we have recently begun acknowledging the emergent and chaotic nature of management as well and the role it plays in shaping the organisation's culture. In that context, it seems natural to move away from the existing nomination based program-style training events and move towards a self explored, easily accessible intervention-styled learning journeys.

A learning environment where employees are given the full freedom to explore the content of their interest and need, where all are encouraged to reflect on the nuances of their skill gaps and where managers play a the role of talent architects for their team rather than leaders presiding on nomination choices.

Not only does that empower employees to take charge of their learning it also moves the Learning and Leadership teams to focus more on facilitation of groups towards right skills development, constructing unique learning journeys and engaging learners to apply their learning at work rather than worrying about program nominations, logistical arrangements and following up with  participants, managers and leaders.

So go ahead, open up your learning space to everyone and encourage people to manage their own learning journeys!